Combined post-hole digger and wire-stretcher.



No. 868,558. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

J- H. HAYNES. I

COMBINED POST HOLE D IGGER AND WIRE STRETGHBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. 1906.

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UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. HAYNES, OF DE LEON, TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed lul' 2'7, 1906. Serial No. 328,023.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that l. .laMEs H. HAYNES, a citizen of the United States, residing at De Leon, in the county of Comanche and State of Texas, have invented a new I and useful Improvement in a (lionibined Postllole Digger and Wire-St rctcher, of which the following is specification.

This invention relates to the combimttion with the principal parts of a well-known iornl oi post-hole digger, ol' certain additional parts by which an ellicient, handy and simple wire stretcher is produced and without detriment to the post-hole digger.

The invention therel'ore consists in the construction and association at pa rts'substantially as and in the manner hereinafter described and claimed:

In the accompaitying drawings which form. a part of this specification, Figure i represents in elevation at post-hole digger having the general features of a wellknown lorm oi such implement; parts thereof being modified and certain additions being made thereto in accordance with this invention: Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the digger taken on line 2--2; Fig. 3 represents a chain having special hooks at its ends and constituting an essential element of the wire stretcher; Fig. 4 represents the crank oithe wire stretcher; Fig. 5 represents two views of the pin which serves as the pivot 01' the post-hole digger and as the barrel oi the winch in the wire stretcher; Fig. (i represents the improved combination implement in its adaptation as a wire stretcher. Y

The scoops or blades of the post-hole digger have hollow shanks forming sockels for the handles l0 and ll. The handle is ronnwable and is retained in itssocket by thmnb-screw l2. To or upon the shanks oi the blades are attached, or formed in any suitable manner, projections or cars which overlap and through which passes the pivot by which the blades of the digger are hinged together. For the purposes of this invention these ears iii are spaced apart as seen in Fig. 2 and the pivot 14 is provided with polygonal ends, one to receive a crank 15 and the other to receive a ratchet wheel 16: a detent t7 being pivoted at one side [or eni gagenient with wheel Ilti. A suitable key is passed through the end oi the pivot to hold it and the ratchet wheel reinovably in place. The pivot 14 is preferably split for a 'ays and in the slit may he slid a flat hook such as seen at i8, on one end of chain 19, whereby said chain is readily attached to said pivot when it is to serve as the barrel of the winch oi the wire stretcher. The opposite end of the chain is preferably provided with a dual hook 20, one part of which is preferably a grab hook and the other a chain hook. A hook as 23 maybe attached to the end of handle 10 by which to hang up the implement.

When the digger is to be converted into a wire stretcher, the pivot I14 is removed and the blades separated, then the chain 19 is attached to the pivot 1.4 by sliding the shank of the llat hook 18 into the slit in the pivot as the latter is passing from one ear 13 t0 the other, then the ratchet wheel 16 is slipped over the end of said pivot and keyed in place, when by applying the crank 15 to the other end of the pivot a winch is iormed. The handle 10 with its blade may then be propped against a fence post as seen in Fig. 6, the wire to be stretched placed in the grab hook and the win ch. turned till the wire is taut when it maybe stapled to the post In this form the stretcher is most powerful.

Shoulders or steps may be formed upon the upper edges of the cars 13, as at 24, to prevent the upper ends of thehandles coming together and pinching the lingers in digging post-holes.

The invention claimed isz A compound tool for the purpose specified consisting of handle members detachnbly and pivotally connected together. one of said members being provided with a scoop and with perforated cars, a slit'ted pivot for the purpose specified journaled in the perforations ol? said ears and provided with polygonal ends. one thereof being for the reception of" a. crank. a ratchet: wheel removably mounted upon the other polygonal end. and a pawl mounted on one of said ears for engagement with the ratchet wheel, sub stantially as and for the purpose specified.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' JAMES ii. HAYNES. 

